Who we are

Catchy arrangements. Synchronized dance moves. Melodies and harmonies drilled to perfection. Maybe a mash up or two. This is the world of show choir today. A long-standing tradition in the U.S., show choirs are a growing phenomenon in Canada. And the country’s show choir world is rapidly expanding with the help of Show Choir Canada.

Show choir is where pop music and musical theatre fans dance (and sing) on common ground. Therefore, it is fitting that Show Choir Canada combines the talents of the professional arts industry with the expertise of arts educators. At the helm are representatives from the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, which trains Canada’s Triple Threat talent, and da Costa Talent Management, which represents some of Canada s leading actors, dancers, singers, and world-class choreographers.

“It’s tremendously encouraging to see how much national interest has increased since we first launched Show Choir Canada in 2011,” says Peter da Costa, Show Choir Canada co-founder and owner of da Costa Talent Management. “With over 550 students participating, and an expected 2,000 spectators in attendance for this year’s event, it’s clear that the Show Choir phenomenon and interest in the arts still continues to flourish in Canada.”

Performers have to work together to blend harmonies, not only in song but also in tightly choreographed movement. But more important than the performance is the process: the experience of participating in show choir raises self-confidence and encourages teamwork.

“The Nationals are a valuable character-building exercise, enabling students to develop further as artists and hone their skills,” says George Randolph, Show Choir Canada co-founder and president of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. “The participants have the opportunity to experience and enjoy the process, and gain an understanding that the work that goes into preparing for a performance is as important – and as fun – as the performance itself.”

High school sports teams meet for annual tournaments. Recreational dance studios vie for top prizes at competitions. Now it’s finally time for the choirs to shine.

The stage is set. The spotlight is on. The band is tuned. Let the glee begin.

Advisory Board

David Connolly

Emmy-winning Director/Choreographer

Millan Curry-Sharples

Gemini Award-winning TV Producer

Mike Weaver

Award winning Director/Choreographer

Peter da Costa has built his career on not just seizing, but creating opportunities. It is that mix of insight and ambition that compelled him to establish da Costa Talent Management and build it over 17 years into a leading industry player. With offices in Toronto and Vancouver, da Costa Talent Management today enjoys a cross-country presence that benefits the agency’s roster of award-winning Triple Threat talent—actors, singers, dancers and world-class choreographers.

A first-generation Canadian, Peter was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and immigrated to Canada at the age of four. Witnessing his parent’s struggle and sacrifice provided the foundation for a work ethic that has propelled him to achieve his goals, whatever the endeavor. The mentorship of Elwood “Woody” Saracuse, one of Canada’s leading corporate entertainment booking agents, also helped set the stage for Peter’s industry success.

Peter started his first company at the age of 19 while studying Business Management at Ryerson University. In the mid 1990s he sold his stake and ventured into the entertainment industry with a partnership in Urban Dance Arts Entertainment. In his role as production coordinator of live dance shows for the corporate market, Peter was introduced to many exceptional performers and intriguing personalities–many of whom were unrepresented. Recognizing there was a void in the industry, in 1998, he established an agency dedicated to representing dancers for all areas of the entertainment industry. Over the years, his reputation — and roster — grew and he quickly attracted some of Canada’s leading talents, many of whom remain from that first year of existence with the agency to this day.

A born entrepreneur, Peter is always seeking new ventures that capitalize on his extensive industry experience, particularly in creating and producing. In 2011, he co-founded Show Choir Canada and was honoured in 2015 with a Canadian Screen Award as creator and co-producer of the TVO documentary Unsung: Behind the Glee, which chronicles the national – and international – phenomenon of the Show Choir Canada National Championships.

Never content to rest, Peter is now building on the momentum of Show Choir Canada with several productions in development, including a TV series and live theatrical show.

George Randolph’s commitment to the arts has taken many forms, from dancer to choreographer, director, producer, and, educator. A former principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, George has over 25 years of international dance performance and education experience in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. His expertise has been leveraged as an adjudicator for many dance festivals across Canada and as a member of the Toronto Arts Council’s dance grants panel. Since 1992, he has led the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts as President/Founder.

The Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit educational institution providing world-class performing arts training to young artists since 1992. Distinguished faculty and entertainment industry professionals shape Triple Threat™ skills of dancing, acting, and singing in an accredited college program, which presents five productions per year, featuring contemporary plays and popular musicals; a children’s recreational arts program; and, starting fall 2010, a youth show choir program. Former faculty, alumni and current students are currently appearing on Stratford, Shaw, Mirvish, Dancap, Broadway (New York) and West End (London) stages, as well as Hollywood (Los Angeles).

Raised on the stage as a competitive dancer, Victoria Schwarzl now works behind the scenes in commercial theatre as a Performing Arts Manager, Producer and Marketer.

Victoria received her Masters of Fine Arts in Performing Arts Management in New York City, where she studied under leading Broadway companies, producers and managers including Roundabout Theatre Company, Disney Theatricals and Frankel Green Theatrical Productions.

In addition to being a member of marketing and public relations teams for multiple Tony® and Dora® Award winning productions, Victoria has been fortunate to work alongside some of the biggest names in film, TV and Broadway, including: Whoopi Goldberg, Donny & Marie Osmond, Annie Lennox, Paula Abdul, Andrea Martin, Eve Ensler, Sutton Foster, Alice Ripley, Colm Wilkinson, Brian D’Arcy James, Mickey Rooney and others.

Victoria has overseen the planning, management and successful execution of corporate sponsorship and promotions, advertising and public relations campaigns, social media channels, and special events including red carpet openings and awards, lip dubs and a large scale flashmob.

An avid amateur photographer in her spare time, Victoria’s event and stage photography has been published both online and in print, with credits in the Toronto Star, Playbill.com, Broadwayworld.com and in various promotional materials for performing artists.

Victoria has lived, studied and worked professionally in both England and New York City, and is happy to now call Toronto home, working in Public Relations for the Luminato Festival.

She is ecstatic to be part of the SHOW CHOIR CANADA team, to continue facilitating and providing life changing experiences and personal development through the joys of live performance, artistry, teamwork and passion.

David Connolly, according to Arts Reporter Paula Citron, “is one of Canada’s eminent men of musical theatre,” a claim supported by reviewing the Premier of Ontario’s Award of Excellence recipient’s recent schedule. Since Wexford’s win in 2011, David helped to develop the HITSQUAD Pilot Program and their debut at the Scarborough Walk Of Fame Dedication; choreographed Piper Pearabo and Christopher Gorham in two episodes and opening credits of the USA Network Spy series, “Covert Affairs’; remounted the Agnes de Mille and Gene Kelly Tributes he wrote and choreographed for Drayton Entertainment’s “Dance Legends;” presented the original Doodlebops Live! in The CBC atrium, produced the “A is for Aldo” National Fragrance Launch. He cheered when the Canadian Tenor’s CBC Christmas Special he choreographed won two Gemini Awards including “Best Performance”, planned of some practically perfect weddings and continued his commitment to charity by supplying entertainment for The Booby Ball (ReThink Breast Cancer), Holiday Chic (Ronald MacDonald House) and donated the writing and production of the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Montreal’s Capital Campaign jingle.

2012 started with happily joining the faculty of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts to workshop a Canadian Cancer Concert he is developing called, “Angels and Superheroes.” In February, David will return to Illinois to work with the members of director John Neubauer’s national award-winning show choir program at Mundelein High. Their female choir, “Lights” (Grand Ole Opry, National Grand Champions, Unisex Division), male choir, “SoundFX” and mixed choir, “Sound” (National Grand Champions, LaCrosse, Wisconsin Invitational) were all contributing factors to Redbook magazine naming MHS “one of America’s best schools.” {No stranger to national titles, Neubauer’s former school, Crete-Monee won Showstoppers International at Walt Disney World in Orlando.} An invitation to balmy-in-March Regina by Carol Gay Bell (Founder, Woman of the Year, Order of Canada recipient) will allow David to once again contribute direction and choreography to what could be considered Canada’s very first show choir, the touring revue show, “Saskatchewan Express” (Matt Alfano, Jodi Riplinger and Heidi Ford Alumni), a group he has worked with for over a decade.

Millan Curry-Sharples is one of Canada’s most accomplished non-scripted, music, variety and comedy producers, a Gemini award winner and former broadcaster with hundreds of hours of award-winning, critically acclaimed and ratings-winning television to his credit including So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Over the Rainbow, Love It Or List It, Cover Me Canada, Comedy Inc. and Comedy Now.Powered by Hackadelic Sliding Notes 1.6.5

Mike Weaver is an award winning director and choreographer based in Chicago.

Mike has been the recipient of numerous awards for his continuing innovations in the field of show choir and he regularly collaborates with some of the country’s most noted high school music departments, staging concerts and theatre productions. His work has garnered awards for best directing, choreography, lighting, set, and show design.

He also works widely in both conceptual and technical development with a variety of projects ranging from musical concerts to theatrical productions. Credits include work with Carnival Cruise Lines, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Marine World Africa USA, Warner Bros Publishing, over a dozen university and colleges and numerous summer institutes and workshops.

As a writer and historian, Mike co-authored the recently released book Sweat, Tears and Jazz Hands: The official history of show choir from Vaudeville to Glee.